Material compacting device

ABSTRACT

Garbage or snow is fed into the hopper and compacted between an arcuately curved shroud and a set of vanes rotating in conjunction with a drum connected to a source of power. The vanes are mounted upon a shaft which in turn is mounted eccentrically of the axis of the drum so that the vanes extend and retract through slits in the drum wall as the unit rotates. The forms a series of chambers between adjacent vanes, the drum wall and the shroud which decrease in volume from the hopper area towards the ejection area thus compacting the material within the chambers.

United States Patent 1 1 Wollersheim 1 June 17, 1975 15 1 MATERIAL COMPACTING DEVICE 3,348,475 10/1967 Fenster et a1 100/177 [76] inventor: Philip Wollersheim, 3016 14th St., FORHGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIQNS Calgary Canada 823,980 7/1949 Germany 100/177 [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1973 Appl. No: 403,845

Related U.S. Application Data Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Assistant E.taminerKenneth Noland Attorney, Agenl, 0r FirmStanley G. Ade

[57] ABSTRACT Garbage or snow is fed into the hopper and compacted between an arcuately curved shroud and a set of vanes rotating in conjunction with a drum connected to a source of power. The vanes are mounted upon a shaft which in turn is mounted eccentrically of the axis of the drum so that the vanes extend and retract through slits in the drum wall as the unit rotates. The forms a series of chambers between adjacent vanes, the drum wall and the shroud which decrease in volume from the hopper area towards the ejection area thus compacting the material within the chambers.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures [63] Continuation-impart of Ser, No. 235,550, March 17,

1972, abandoned.

[52] 11.5. C1. 100/177; 100/192; 214/833 [51] Int. Cl 860p l/(lO [58] Field of Search .1 214/833, 83.36, 198/212; 100/192, 177, 178

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,121,932 6/1938 Slocum 100/177 2,320,307 5/1943 Saville r l l l t 198/212 2,722,884 11/1955 Seltzer 100/192 2,807,377 9/1957 Finct 214/813 3070006 12/1962 Rancy ct a1 100/192 3,121,387 2/1964 Fahrwenk et a1, 100/192 3,279,357 10/1966 Farmer 100/177 fi z 5 l6 III/1117* PATENTEDJUN 17 I975 SHEET FIG. 4

FIG.

MATERIAL COMPACTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 235.550 filed Mar. I7. 1972. now abandoned and relates to new and useful improvements in garbage compactors.

Although the device is directed primarily towards the compaction of garbage, nevertheless it will be appreciated that it can be used for compacting snow collected from streets or the like.

There are many garbage compacting units on the market all of which suffer from several disadvantages, the principal ones of which are extremely high cost, heavy wear and difficulty of maintenance. Furthermore, the majority of compactors are not efficient due to the fact that they normally work on plunger action so that feeding and removal of the garbage within the compacting cylinders is often difficult and is rarely con- III'IUOUS.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes all of these disadvantages by providing a relatively simple construction which will continuously compact garbage or snow and eject same into a truck upon which the device may readily be mounted.

The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithin described which will receive garbage or snow through a hopper, continuously compact same and eject it into a storage container such as a truck or the likev Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the degree of compaction may be controlled within limits.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes a drum rotating within a casing and having a series of vanes extending through the wall thereof, said vanes being mounted upon a shaft eccentric from the axis of the drum so that the vanes extend and retract as the drum is rotated. A curved shroud in conjunction with adjacent vanes and the wall of the drum forms chambers which receive the garbage or snow and the volume of these chambers decreases as the drum rotates thus compacting the material therewithin and ejecting same through an ejector outlet formed within the casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and other such objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an isometric view of the rear end of a truck with the device secured thereto.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through one embodiment, enlarged in scale with respect to the remaining views.

FIG. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and enlarged similar to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section showing an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section showing a still further embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section showing yet another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the preferred embodiment.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIG. I in which 10 illustrates the rear end of a truck or the like which is conventional in construction and acts as a container for the compacting garbage.

The compactor collectively designated ll may be bolted to the rear of the truck or built integrally as desired and a source of power [2 is mounted upon the compactor for driving same as will hereinafter be described. This is shown schematically by reference character 12 in FIG. I and may take the form of an electric motor, a gasoline engine or an hydraulic motor, which ever is preferred. Alternatively. of course, the drive may be taken from a power take-off arrangement (not illustrated) from the truck motor.

Dealing first with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the compactor 11 consists of an outer casing collectively designated 13. This casing includes a pair of spaced and parallel side walls 14, a base wall 15, front and rear walls 16 and 17 and an upper wall 18 thus forming a substantially cubical casing as clearly shown, A further pair of side walls 14' extend upwardly from the upper wall 18 and are situated inwardly of the side walls 14 and these side walls terminate in a further upper wall 18 reinforced by means of a transverse plate 19 to support the source of power 12 thereupon. A hopper 20 is formed by portions of the additional side walls 14' a front transverse plate 21 and a rear transverse plate 22, plates 21 and 22 converging slightly as they extend from the upper wall 18 thus forming an intake throat 22' clearly shown in FIG. 2.

Adjacent the base of the end wall 17 is an ejector outlet 23 formed in the wall and extending thereacross and this outlet includes an upper downwardly and inwardly inclined short flange length 24 extending clear across the upper edge of the ejector outlet 23.

The lower wall of the ejector outlet is formed by the end 25 of an arcuately curved shroud assembly collectively designated 26, situated within the casing. This arcuately curved shroud includes a relatively planar portion 27 situated immediately below the inlet throat 22' of the hopper 20.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. this shroud is pivotally mounted to the side walls 14 of the casing by means of the transverse pivot assembly 28 and the remainder of the shroud is normally biassed upwardly by means of an assembly 29 which consists of a compression spring 30 mounted within a spring cup 31 secured to the underside of the shroud and reacting between a mounting portion 32 secured to the base 15 of the casing so that the spring reacts between the por tion 32 and the shroud 26. A conventional screw threaded nut and bolt assembly 34 may engaged through the spring assembly 29 to adjust the tension of the spring within limits.

The shroud 26 includes the arcuately curved plate 35 and reinforcing flanges 36 upon the underside thereof.

A drum collectively designated 37 is situated within the casing adjacent the ejector outlet or wall 17 as clearly shown. A plurality of sets of rollers 38 are mounted upon hearing pins 39 extending inwardly from the side walls 14 as clearly shown in PK]. 3 and the inner surface 40 of the peripheral wall 41 of the drum engages over these rollers thus supporting the drum for rotation within the casing upon a central axis 42 which is transversely of the casing 13.

ln the present embodiment, a chain sprocket ring 43 is secured around the outer surface of the peripheral wall 41 adjacent one end thereof and between one side wall 14 and the other side wall 14' as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 and a chain shown in phantom by reference character 44, extends around this sprocket ring and around a small sprocket 45 secured to the drive shaft of the source of power 12 thus supplying rotation of the drum in the direction of arrow 46.

A set of compression or compacting vanes collectively designated 47 are provided and situated trans versely within the casing. Means to mount these vanes takes the form of a fixed shaft 48 extending between the walls 14 and being braced by means of gussets 49 as shown and the axis of this shaft is eccentric from the axis 42 of the drum as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

A plurality of planar transversely extending vanes 50 each include a bearing sleeve 51 spaced apart and secured to the inner edge thereof, said bearing sleeves bearably engaging around shaft 48.

The individual bearing sleeves for each vane are identified by reference characters 51, 51A, 51B and 51C.

Transverse slots 52 are formed within the peripheral wall of the drum and the vanes 50 extend through these slots. Means are provided to bearably support the vanes through the slots and take the form of semi-cylindrical portions of tubing 53 braced upon each side of slot 52, to the inner surface of the peripheral wall 41, as illustrated by reference character 54. Split bearings 55 engage within these semicylindrical tubes and upon each side of the vanes 50.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that rota tion of drum 37 by means of the source of power will cause the vanes to extend and retract relative to the surface of the drum and due to the fact that the position of the shaft 48 is to one side and above the axis 42 of the drum, the greatest extension of the vanes will be as they approach the intake throat 22' of the hopper 20. This is illustrated in PK]. 2 in which reference character 56 shows in phantom the effective path of the outer ends 57 of the vanes 50.

Adjacent vanes 50, the portion of the peripheral wall 41 of the drum therebetween, and a part of the arcuately curved plate 35 of the shroud, form chambers indicated by reference characters 57A, 57B 57C and 57D and it will be observed that chambers 57B and 57C are approximately the same volume. However, chamber 57D has decreased in volume as it approaches the ejector outlet so that any material contained within the chambers will be compressed as it approaches the ejector outlet.

In operation, garbage or snow is fed into the hopper 20 and slides down the planar portion 27 of the shroud 26 and is picked up by the next vane 50 just approach ing the hopper intake throat 22' so that this garbage is contained within chamber 57C. As the vanes and drum rotate, the volume of this chamber decreases rapidly and compresses the garbage or snow between the adjacent vanes, the portion of the peripheral wall 41 of the drum and the portion 27A of the arcuately curved shroud. The compaction of the material contained within chamber 57D is of course controlled by the compression of the spring 30 biassing this end of the shroud upwardly towards the peripheral wall of the drum. As the drum continues to rotate, the compressed slug of garbage or snow is ejected through the outlet defined by the flange 24 and the portion 25 of the shroud which of course moves away slightly from the drum depending upon the compression of spring 30.

The drum rotates continuously and the slugs are ejected into the truck 10 or other container.

FIGS. 4. 5 and 6 show similar arrangements but with slightly different embodiments and where indicated, common reference characters have been given.

In FIG. 4, the shroud 26 is fixed at either end to the walls 16 and 17 so that a fixed compaction is obtained.

In FIG. 5, two pairs of rollers 58 are secured to the underside of the shroud 26 adjacent each end thereof. It should be observed that only two of these rollers (one of each pair) is illustrated. These rollers run in fixed tracks 59 secured to the side walls 14 of the casing and a pair of compression spring assemblies 29 react between the casing and the shroud in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described.

In FIG. 6, the shroud is mounted upon two pairs of links 60 (one each of each pair only being shown) and these links are pivoted by one end thereof to brackets 61 attached to the underside of the shroud and by brackets 62 attached to the walls 16 and 17 respectively. These links are so positioned that limited vertical movement of the shroud is permitted and is con trolled by compression spring assemblies 29 as hereinbefore described.

ln all cases. the garbage is picked up from the hopper within the compartments and rotated with the vanes and drum so that the volume of the compartment decreases and compresses the garbage or snow and then ejects it as a slug into the storage container such as the truck 10.

Preference should be made to FIGS. 5 and 6 which, because of the fact that the shroud moves as a unit, requires a lower flange 24' in the case of FIG. 5 to define the ejector outlet. Also the end 25 of the shroud turns downwardly as at 25 thus maintaining the continuity of the lower wall of the ejector outlet 23 regardless of the position of the shroud 26.

A similar construction is shown in FIG. 6 and for the same reasons. In this one. because of the movement of the shroud due to the length 60, the down turned portion 25 is slightly curved once again to maintain the continuity of the lower wall of the ejector outlet 23.

FIG. 7 shows the preferred embodiment of the shroud construction in which reference character 26 illustrates the shroud pivotted to the side walls 14 of the casing by the means of transverse pivot assembly 28 in a manner similar to that described in FIGS. 2 and 3.

However, the means for biassing the shroud upwardly or towards the drum assembly 26, comprises a fluid operating piston and cylinder assembly collectively designated 63 in conjunction with an accumulator collectively designated 64.

The fluid operator includes a cylinder 65 pivotted by the lower end thereof to a cross member 66.

A piston head 67 is situated within the cylinder and a piston 68 extends from this cylinder and is pivotally secured to the shroud intermediate the ends thereof. by means of pivot 69 engaging through the stiffening flange 36 as clearly illustrated in FIG. 7.

A fluid outlet 70 is provided at the base 71 of the cylinder 65 and a flexible hose or conduit 72 extends from this outlet to an inlet 73 provided within the base of the accumulator tank 74.

This tank is in the form of a pressure tank and contains fluid and air, reference character 75 illustrating the fluid with reference character 76 illustrating the air thereabove, and a charging valve 77 permits air under pressure to be charged within the accumulator tank 74.

In operation, as the shroud tends to move in the direction of arrow 78, the piston 67 moves downwardly within the cylinder 65 and forces fluid from the cylinder into the accumulator tank. This means that the fluid level rises within the tank and compresses the air thereabove thus increasing the resistance to movement of the shroud. When pressure is relieved from the shroud, the air pressure within the accumulator tank 74 forces the fluid back into the cylinder and returns the shroud to the original position.

Control is obtained by the initial charge of air within the tank and the pressure of this charge of air.

The advantages over the spring assembly in the previous embodiments is due to the fact that spring assembly increases its resistance far too rapidly for many applications whereas the hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly in conjunction with the accumulator gives far greater control over a wider range of movement yet at the same time allows the adjustment necessary so that the device can be used in different environments.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described. and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope. it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A material compacting device for use in conjunction with a storage container such as a truck; comprising in combination an outer casing, an arcuately curved shroud mounted in said casing, an intake hopper in said casing and an ejector outlet in said casing, said shroud extending between said hopper and said outlet, a drum journalled for rotation transversely within said casing and being situated towards said outlet, the peripheral wall of said drum being in close proximity with the concave inner surface of said shroud. a source of power operatively connected to said drum for rotating same and a set of compression vanes, means in said casing to mount said vanes, said means being eccentric to the transverse axis of said drum, said vanes extending through the peripheral wall of said drum and extending and retracting relative to said peripheral wall of said drum as said drum rotates, adjacent vanes, the portion of said peripheral wall therebetween and said shroud defining chambers, the volume of which decreases towards said ejector outlet as said drum and vanes rotate. said shroud being pivotally mounted to said casing by one end thereof adjacent said hopper and adjustable means adjacent the other end thereof normally biassing said shroud towards said drum thereby controlling the compaction of material within said chambers, said means normally biassing said shroud towards said drum including a fluid operating piston and cylinder assembly operatively extending between said shroud and said casing and an accumulator in said casing operatively connected to the cylinder of said piston and cylinder assembly.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said means in said casing mounting said vanes includes a fixed shaft spanning said casing internally of said drum and being secured to the walls of said casing, sleeve bearing means secured to the walls of said casing, sleeve bearing means secured to each of said vanes and bearably engaging around said shaft, transverse slots formed in the peripheral wall of said drum, one for each of said vanes, and bearing means on the insides of said drum wall adjacent each slot for bearably supporting each of said vanes for reciprocal motion through said slots.

3. The device according to claim 1 which includes means for journalling said drum for rotation as aforesaid, said last means including a plurality of rollers journalled upon each side wall of said casing and situated within said drum, the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said drum engaging over said rollers at each end of said drum.

4. The device according to claim 2 which includes means for journalling said drum for rotation as aforesaid, said last means including a plurality of rollers journalled upon each side wall of said casing and situated within said drum. the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said drum engaging over said rollers at each end of said drum. 

1. A material compacting device for use in conjunction with a storage container such as a truck; comprising in combination an outer casing, an arcuately curved shroud mounted in said casing, an intake hopper in said casing and an ejector outlet in said casing, said shroud extending between said hopper and said outlet, a drum journalled for rotation transversely within said casing and being situated towards said outlet, the peripheral wall of said drum being in close proximity with the concave inner surface of said shroud, a source of power operatively connected to said drum for rotating same and a set of compression vanes, means in said casing to mount said vanes, said means being eccentric to the transverse axis of said drum, said vanes extending through the peripheral wall of said drum and extending and retracting relative to said peripheral wall of said drum as said drum rotates, adjacent vanes, the portion of said peripheral wall therebetween and said shroud defining chambers, the volume of which decreases towards said ejector outlet as said drum and vanes rotate, said shroud being pivotally mounted to said casing by one end thereof adjacent said hopper and adjustable means adjacent the other end thereof normally biassing said shroud towards said drum thereby controlling the compaction of material within said chambers, said means normally biassing said shroud towards said drum including a fluid operating piston and cylinder assembly operatively extending between said shroud and said casing and an accumulator in said casing operatively connected to the cylinder of said piston and cylinder assembly.
 2. The device according to claim 1 in which said means in said casing mounting said vanes includes a fixed shaft spanning said casing internally of said drum and being secured to the walls of said casing, sleeve bearing means secured to the walls of said casing, sleeve bearing means secured to each of said vanes and bearably engaging around said shaft, transverse slots formed in the peripheral wall of said drum, one for each of said vanes, and bearing means on the insides of said drum wall adjacent each slot for bearably supporting each of said vanes for reciprocal motion through said slots.
 3. The device according to claim 1 which includes means for journalling said drum for rotation as aforesaid, said last means including a plurality of rollers journalled upon each side wall of said casing and situated within said drum, the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said drum engaging over said rollers at each end of said drum.
 4. The device according to claim 2 which includes means for journalling said drum for rotation as aforesaid, said last means including a plurality of rollers journalled upon each side wall of said casing and situated within said drum, the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said drum engaging over said rollers at each end of said drum. 